With bleary eyes, paper cut fingers and reading-in-bed hair, the Inspy Awards Advisory Board has come out of reading hibernation to announce the 2014 shortlist contenders. A daunting task was placed before us to pick just 5 books in each category from a long list of 150 nominated by readers and bloggers around the world. After careful consideration and deliberation, the INSPYs Advisory Board is pleased to announce that the following books have been shortlisted in the 4th annual INSPY Awards.

DEBUT FICTION

Burning Sky by Lori Benton

Born of Persuasion by Jessica Dotta

A Bride for Keeps by Melissa Jagears

The Outcast by Jolina Petersheim

Dear Mr. Knightley by Katherine Reay

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GENERAL FICTION

When Mountains Move by Julie Cantrell

To Know You by Shannon Ethridge and Kathryn Mackel

Widow of Gettysburg by Jocelyn Green

Wings of Glass by Gina Holmes

Iscariot by Tosca Lee

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CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE/ROMANTIC SUSPENSE

Wishing On Willows by Katie Ganshert

Barefoot Summer by Denise Hunter

Talon by Ronie Kendig

Shattered by Dani Pettrey

Take A Chance on Me by Susan May Warren

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HISTORICAL ROMANCE

Though my Heart is Torn by Joanne Bischof

Love’s Awakening by Laura Frantz

A Noble Groom by Jody Hedlund

The Tutor’s Daughter by Julie Klassen

Duchess by Susan May Warren

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SPECULATIVE FICTION

Hero’s Lot by Patrick W Carr

Dark Halo by Shannon Dittemore

Anomaly by Krista McGee

Memory’s Door by James L Rubart

The Rising by Lynn Chandler-Willis

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MYSTERY AND THRILLER

Dark Justice by Brandilyn Collins

Rules of Murder by Julianna Deering

The King by Steven James

Poison by Jordyn Redwood

Dead Lawyers Tell No Tales by Randy Singer

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LITERATURE FOR YOUNG ADULTS

Captive Maiden by Melanie Dickerson

Doon by Carey Corp and Lorie Langdon

The Unlikely Debut of Ellie Sweet by Stephanie Morrill

Hurt by Travis Thrasher

Captives by Jill Williamson

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Congratulations to all of the nominated authors and shortlist contenders! We now turn the job over to our judges to select a winner in each category. Winners will be announced June 28th.

Recognizing the need for a new kind of book award, the INSPYs were created by bloggers to discover and highlight the very best in literature that grapples with expressions of the Christian faith. Contact us at inspyawards@gmail.com Read More…